Sultan tasks agencies against corruption

THE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, yesterday urged anti-corruption agencies to redouble efforts on public awareness against corruption and ensure transparent dealings in handling of cases.

Abubakar made the appeal at the Northwest zonal dialogue with stakeholders on National Ethics and Integrity Policy, organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Sokoto.

The event was organised in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Abubakar, who was represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, stressed the importance of pubic awareness in the fight against corruption.

The monarch urged agencies to be wary of keeping mute on the recovery which, according to him, would spell doom to the fight against corruption in the country.

“Nigerians needs explanation on how much was recovered, where are the money and what are they doing with them.

“This explanation is necessary considering the state of our education and other infrastructure like roads which need serious government attention,” he said.

According to the monarch, founders of the Sokoto Caliphate had written many books on corruption and how it would be addressed using Islamic ways.

He advised leaders to obtain copies of such publications which, he said, would guide them in getting to the root of the problem.

The Zonal Head of ICPC in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, Ibrahim Alkali, said the national ethics and integrity police was a child of necessity.

“It was conceived and delivered out of the urgent need to resuscitate and rejuvenate our lost values of honesty and integrity as a nation,” he said.

Alkali said the commission had recorded many cases with some disposed and others being prosecuted.

He enjoined participants to educate others in their respective domains on the need to abhor corruption and imbibe the culture of integrity and self respect as well as enjoined public to understand the authority’s mission on inculcating right policies against corruption.

In his lecture, Sokoto State Director of NOA, Alhaji Maude Danjadi, underscored the importance of doing the right things at all times as being anchored by NOA.

Danjadi dwelled on community values and social orientation that existed in Nigerian communities and urged stakeholders to collectively strive in restoring lost values especially on integrity and social respect.

NAN reports that other papers were delivered by officials of ICPC through online presentations and the event was attended by government officials, community groups, women and youths associations, among others. (NAN)